The Stars of Pro Wrestling NOAH Return To ROH

We have been teasing you for awhile now that Ring of Honor had something big in the works for our return to Toronto on May 4th for the “Border Wars 2013” iPPV & May 5th for the first ever international “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV tapings.

The speculation has indeed run rampant, and now that all of the paperwork has been finalized, Ring of Honor, in conjunction with Pro Wrestling NOAH, is extremely excited to announce that both multi-time GHC champion Naomichi Marufuji and current GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion Taiji Ishimori will be in action on BOTH May 4th and 5th at The Ted Reeve Arena!

One of the most decorated athletes in Puroresu, Naomichi Marufuji is one of only two individuals to have lay claim to being a grand slam champion in Pro Wrestling NOAH. A former GHC Heavyweight Champion, former Jr. Heavyweight Champion, 2-Time former Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion, former Openweight Hardcore Champion, and former 3-Time GHC Heavyweight Tag Team Champion having recently been dethroned on March 10th, Marufuji also holds the unique distinction of being the only man to hold the Jr. Heavyweight Title in all three major Japanese promotions (NOAH, New Japan Pro Wrestling, and All Japan Pro Wrestling). It has been over four years since the last time Marufuji graced the ROH ring with his presence, “Final Battle 2008” when he challenged Nigel McGuinness for the World Title in an epic contest to be exact, and now he finally returns in Toronto!

The current reigning GHC Jr. Heavyweight champion, Taiji Ishimori began his wrestling career in 2002 and in 2006 became a part of the NOAH roster, frequently teaming with current GHC Heavyweight Champion and ROH alum KENTA. The duo would claim the GHC Jr. Heavyweight Tag Titles in March of 2008 and reign for four months, including successfully defending their belts against the duo of Eddie Edwards & Bryan Danielson. Ishimori would repeat that championship success, this time with Ricky Marvin as his partner, in 2010 when they won a tournament to fill the vacant championship. As a matter of fact, Ishimori & Marvin defeated Eddie Edwards & Bobby Fish en route to their victory. Then on January 27th of this year, Ishimori achieved the greatest individual success of his NOAH career when he dethroned Shuji Kondo and became the 26th GHC Jr. Heavyweight Champion. May 4th & 5th in Toronto will mark Ishimori’s first ROH bouts since he battled El Generico at “The Tokyo Summit” event in September 2008 that took place in Japan.

ROH is honored to host Naomichi Marufuji and Taiji Ishimori when we make our return to Toronto on May 4th & 5th for the “Border Wars 2013” iPPV event and “Ring of Honor Wrestling” TV tapings. Tickets for both shows are available right here in the ROH Store. Don’t miss what could be your ONLY chance this year to see these two amazing athletes from Pro Wrestling NOAH compete in Ring of Honor!